One officer was seriously wounded while heroic cops gunned down extremists within eight minutes of first emergency call

By Mark Hodge, Neal Baker and Emma Lake

7th June 2017,1:20 pm

Updated: 7th June 2017,1:44 pm

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the depraved attack in London Bridge as chilling video shows three jihadis calmly strolling past a pub while in the midst of the van and knife rampage that killed eight and critically injured 21.

The twisted killers are seen calmly walking through Borough Market moments before they launched a stabbing attack on pubgoers while shouting “this is for Allah”, having already driven a van into crowds.

The white van used in the deadly attack is removed by authorities on Sunday

Terror group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the mass killing more than 24 hours after the atrocity through their affiliated news agency Amaq.

Despite the warped death cult’s claims, Amaq recently claimed that an arson assault on a casino in Manila was ISIS-related. But CCTV footage released shortly after suggested the incident was a botched robbery and not terror related.

On Saturday on London Bridge, a three-strong terrorist gang wearing fake suicide vests were shot dead by armed police after inflicting eight minutes of terror on those enjoying a summer’s evening in the capital, killing seven and injuring 48 – with 21 still critical.

ISIS affiliated news agency Amaq tweeted out this statement in Arabic claiming the terror group was responsible for the attack

The PM delivered a firm warning to those who harbour extremists in what looked like a turning point in terror policy today after the latest terror attack struck in the heart of London.

Following the third terrorist attack in three months Mrs May defiantly confirmed Thursday’s General Election will go ahead and issued a warning to jihadis and those who harbour them as she said “things need to change”.

After chairing a Cobra meeting she said: “It is time to say enough is enough. Everybody needs to go about their lives as they normally would. Our society should continue to function in accordance with our values.

“But when it comes to taking on extremism and terrorism, things need to change.

“While we have made significant progress in recent years there is, to be frank, far too much tolerance of extremism in our country.

“So we need to become far more robust in identifying it and stamping it out – across the public sector and across society.

“That will require some difficult and often embarrassing conversations, but the whole of our country needs to come together to take on this extremism.”

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:

ISIS has claimed responsibility after a van ploughed through pedestrians on London Bridge just after 10pm on Saturday

London Bridge Underground and National Rail stations re-opened on Monday

A minute’s silence nationwide on Monday at 11am and a vigil in Potters Fields Park in London at 6pm

Gunfire heard in Dagenham as heavily-armed cops detain several people during raids linked to the attack

Did you see the London Bridge terror attack, or know anyone involved? Please contact The Sun newsdesk on 020 7782 4100, text 07423720250 or email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk

The van was ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge before the terrorists went a stabbing spree through Borough Market and the surrounding streets.

Staff at a packed pub locked the doors and barricaded revellers inside as the armed gang tried to smash their way in shortly after 10.08pm.

The first casualty to be named is Christine Archibald a charity worker from British Columbia, Canada.

Survivor Daniel O’Neill, 23, was standing outside a bar when one of the killers plunged a knife into him.

His mum Elizabeth told BBC News: “He had just stepped outside the bar for a second and a man ran up to him and said ‘this is for my family, this is for Islam’ and put a knife in him.”

Another man has posted his a picture of his friend Brett Freeman in a hospital bed calling him a “soldier” for pulling through the attack in which he claims he was stabbed four times.

The Met’s Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley has confirmed that all three of the depraved attackers were shot and killed outside the Wheatsheaf pub within eight minutes of the first call to emergency services after brave cops rushed to protect the public.

The Foreign Secretary and former London Mayor said: “Today we collectively resolve to beat the terrorists and their nihilistic creed.

“To those who sympathise or encourage or harbour or aid or abet these killers – in any way – we say enough is enough.

“Your time is up. The wells of tolerance are running empty. We will not let you disrupt our lives or our democracy.”

“In the week of this general election millions of people need to hear the arguments on either side. They cannot have that fundamental right taken away by terrorists.”

He added: “The response of the British people will be to carry on with business and usual – as far as they possibly can – in a spirit of total defiance.”

The Muslim Council of Britain has responded to Mrs May’s comments. Secretary general Harun Rashid told the BBC the council would be launching a campaign with mosques to encourage the reporting of suspicious activity.

He said: “We are ready to have those difficult conversations, as equal citizens with an equal stake in this fight.”

Confirming the death toll had risen to seven this morning Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick praised the “extraordinary courage” of brave passers-by who stepped in to help those injured in last night’s atrocity.

Commissioner Dick said: “Many, many people risked their own safety to help others and treat those seriously injured and to indeed confront the suspects involved.

“It’s clear to me the courage of those people during and following this attack was extraordinary.”

A French man and a Canadian have been confirmed as among those killed with PM Justin Trudeau condemning the “senseless” attack.

This morning members of the public have returned to the area to lay flowers as police, forensic teams and armed officers continue to swarm the area.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a vigil will be held at 6pm on Monday in Potters Fields Park with a minute’s silent at 6.20pm.

Whitehall officials have told the BBC it is too early to confirm if the attackers were “subjects of interest” known to MI5 or cops.

Police have arrested 12 people including several women in burkas in a dramatic raid on a block of flats in Barking, east London, believed to be home to at least one of the attackers.

A second flat in East Ham was raided with witnesses saying two suspects were dragged away and put into police vans as snipers were poised from across the road – but cops have yet to confirm if this was related to the attack.

Investigators have also confirmed that seven women have been arrested in connection with the twisted assault.

Detectives were still investigating whether the assailants acted alone, and Mark Rowley, head of national counter-terrorism policing, said their identities would be released “as soon as operationally possible”.

Sick jihadis took to social media to praise the three terrorists who ploughed through crowds on the bridge before going on a stabbing rampage with hunting knives.

Extremists responded by saying: “These are the black days we promised”.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was “shocked and horrified” by the attacks and praised the emergency services.

He also has dramatically U-turned on his long-held concerns over gun cops’ shoot-to-kill policy in light of the senseless attack.

Corbyn said police must have “full authority” to use “whatever force is necessary to protect and save life.”

A picture taken outside the Wheatsheaf pub in Borough Market shows the three terrorists lying dead – after being gunned down by cops.

One of the twisted attackers was pictured wearing an Arsenal football strip from the 2011/12 season.

Witness Erick Siguenza told BBC News that one of the gang screamed “This is for Allah” as he went on a stabbing rampage in the busy central London streets.

The gang had metal canisters strapped to their chests which police chief Rowley confirmed were hoax suicide vests.

Following the rampage four explosions – confirmed as controlled blasts by the police – were heard outside The Sun offices near London Bridge between 1:23am and 1:49am.

At least two cops were injured including a British Transport Police officer who was stabbed in the face by the sick extremists – the officer’s injuries are not life threatening.

Another of the cops injured was a rugby player who armed with just a baton took on the three knife-wielding terrorists as he battled to help innocent victims.

Met police have confirmed that the attacks in London Bridge and Borough Market were “terror incidents”, with Amber Rudd adding that a connection to the Manchester Attack is unlikely but can not be ruled out.

Another incident in the Vauxhall area was confirmed as an unrelated stabbing.

A huge armed police presence remains in London Bridge today with a large cordon in place as Transport for London confirms that London Bridge station will remain closed all day.

Did you see the London Bridge terror attack, or know anyone involved? Please contact The Sun newsdesk on 020 7782 4100, text 07423720250 or email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk

Former intelligence chief Richard Kemp says it's time to 'take the gloves off' and calls for every cop to be armed

FROM looking at what’s going on it looks likely the government wouldn’t have had intelligence.

The reality is that even an attack which involves knives is hard for the government to get information about, because it doesn’t require much preparation.

There is obviously a direct link to previous ISIS attacks that have been carried out, either at the direction of ISIS or being inspired by ISIS but also, the timing of these attacks is related to two things – one is Ramadan.

During Ramadan we always expect to see a higher level of violence from ISIS and we’ve seen that around the world, and now in London.

The other thing is the election; carrying out an attack during an election period gives ISIS fighters credit.

It’s very likely the people involved will have been known and the way to deal with it therefore is to get rid of similar people before they carry attacks like these out in future.

We can do that by deporting people who are not British citizens and who are known to be terrorists, by detaining those who are and by excluding those who are ISIS fighters returning from Iraq and Syria.

I’m not confident the government will do this.

I don’t know if any politician in the UK will do that – they will in due course, because if they don’t these attacks will continue and they’ll have to.

But for right now, the most likely thing is we’ll see the threat level increase, more armed troops and police as an immediate measure.

I doubt it would have made any difference if the national threat level had remained at critical.

That being said, the elements of it being critical which included military forces and additional police should be reverted because it allows for quicker reactions.

We need to consider that this level of threat is going to continue for some time.

We should be convicting people involved in radicalisation. It’s time to take the gloves off and hit very, very hard now.

We need to detain, export and exclude terrorists.

We also need to have every cop in this country armed, which gives us a greater chance of having an immediate response.

There was very quick response here, but that’s due to proximity to the scene, which unfortunately doesn’t apply everywhere.

He said a man behind him was cut by one of the suspects in the chaos, with people running to the back of the restaurant.

Wendy Clarke, who was also at the Black and Blue steak restaurant, said: “I saw a bottle flying.

“I said ‘oh my god, what’s going on there?’

“And they (friends) got up and the next thing was just pandemonium.

“Everyone was running into the restaurant and the next thing they were shouting was ‘move, move, get out the way’.

“We got under tables.”

She said her son shouted for her help, with the teen claiming he saw one of the men wearing a suicide vest.

Wendy said: “As we were running out the restaurant, we saw blood. Blood was everywhere.”

A police helicopter pictured flying above the London Bridge area on Sunday morning

The Muslim Council of Britain has condemned the “cowards” who attacked the capital.

Harun Khan, secretary general, said in a statement: “I am appalled and angered by the terrorist attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market, in my home city.

“These acts of violence were truly shocking and I condemn them in the strongest terms. Muslims everywhere are outraged and disgusted at these cowards who once again have destroyed the lives of our fellow Britons.”

The US State Department also released a statement condemning the terror attack and offering assistance.

Donald Trump later phoned Mrs May and offered his condolences while praising the work of London’s emergency services.

The President had earlier tweeted “WE ARE WITH YOU” while calling for his travel ban to be reinstated.

Authorities have confirmed that Londoners can expect heightened security – including armed police – in the city following the attack.

Speaking on Sunday morning, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I’ve been the mayor for 13 months. We have the best police and security services in the world, we saw that with their swift response last night. People should remain calm and vigilant.

“These terrorists want to disrupt our way of life; mixing and mingling on a Saturday night; voting on Thursday. We can’t let them do that.”

The latest terror assault came 12 days after the Manchester suicide bombing which killed 22 people – including children – at a pop concert.

The One Love Manchester concert has gone ahead with thousands falling silent in tribute to the victims of both the Manchester and London attacks on Sunday evening.

Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham told those gathered: “We have received so many messages in recent days, so tonight, Manchester, let’s send our own to our friends in London who are going through the same as we were going through.”